Narrows Center to showcase music, paintings, more at Festival of the Arts

Linda Murphy Lifestyle Editor @HNFastFood

Wednesday

Sep 7, 2016 at 6:39 PMSep 7, 2016 at 7:04 PM

Amy Helm is headlining this year’s Narrows Center for the Arts’ Festival of the Arts along with slate of performers running the gamut from a jazz trio to a rockabilly master and a soulful singer.

The day of music, art exhibits, artist and artisan products, food trucks and fun kids’ activities is slated for Sunday, Sept. 11, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Anawan Street, and inside the Narrows Center for the Arts.

A free day of music to showcase the types of acts the Narrows features throughout the year, the lineup at this event features Helm, Alexis P. Suter Band, Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound, Roy Sludge, Tim Ray Trio, TJ’s Music Allstars, Butch McCarthy and The Ghosts of Paul Revere.

Born into a music family, Helm (daughter of Levon Helm, drummer for The Band, and singer/songwriter Libby Titus) is touring in support of her recent debut album “Didn’t It Rain.” She originally appeared at the Narrows six or seven years ago in the band Ollabelle. “She’s definitely a rising star — she’s one of those people we’ret not going to be able to get in a few years,” Norton said.

Paul Cebar, blending an upbeat melting pot of influences, is a master of R&B, funk, soul and rock, said Norton, adding the Midwestern-based Cebar rarely performs on the East Coast.

Bringing her soulful bass vocals to the festival is Alexis P. Suter. Based in upstate New York, Suter and her five-piece band meld blues, soul and rock, according to the band’s website.

The Tim Ray Trio, a three-piece jazz act featuring pianist Tim Ray, John Lockwood on bass and drummer Mark Walker will open the outdoor stage performing from noon to 1 p.m. The trio recently released “Windows,” a Whaling City Sound-produced album that pays home to “Ray’s heroes: McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Duke Ellington, and Horace Silver” according to the press release for the album.

Suter will perform from 1:30 to 2:45; Cebar from 3:15 to 4:45 and Helm rounds out the day from 5:15 to 7 p.m.

Local acts range from up-and-coming performers in TJ Music Allstars to Southcoast folk/rock favorite Butch McCarthy. Local teens and young adults in TJ’s Music Allstars band will kick off the indoor performances from 11:30 to 12:15. McCarthy will follow from 1 to 2 p.m. The Ghost of Paul Revere, an acoustic string band, will take the indoor stage from 2:45 to 3:45. Rockabilly master Roy Sludge will round out the indoor acts with a performance from 4:45 to 5:45.

While they’re indoors checking out those bands, festival-goers are invited to check out the Narrows Center for the Arts’ current exhibits. In the main exhibit space, “Michelle L’Heureux: All Who Wander” features L’Heureux’s paintings, books, prints and multi-media pieces inspired by travels in this country and a seven-month sabbatical in Lisbon, Portugal. In the side gallery space, professional photographers Rick Farrell and Richard McCaffrey present photos of musicians who have performed at the Newport Folk Festival over the years.

On Anawan Street, approximately 30 artists and artisans will be selling their jewelry, prints, paintings, photos and other wares such as jams and pickles, apparel, soap, glass, wind chimes, planters and terrariums. The Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River will be on hand offering plenty of fun hands-on activities for kids. Local author and yoga instructor Joanie Woodward will be signing her book and making a craft to do with Laughing Yoga.

For those who work up an appetite, Forever Paws Animal Shelter will be selling hot dogs and the following food trucks will be selling fare: Mad House Grill (American and Portuguese food); Acacia Cafe (vegetarian and internationally inspired fare) and O’Crepe for desserts.

The festival is produced with arts grant funding from the Massachusetts Arts Council and the Fall River Cultural Council.

Email Linda Murphy at lmurphy@heraldnews.com.

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